In the Jacobean era women were played by young boys as their voices were still tender and high but were not masculine. Also women in the Jacobean era were view as weak, less powerful and less ambitious than men and it was unheard of for a woman to be involved in high society like politics and acting so they were meant to bear capable,healthy children while being a housewife or they were classed as witches and useless (try telling that to Lady Macbeth). Men were expected to go into battle and help produce sons to serve the country when needed otherwise they were classed as weak and feeble.
In terms of religion the country followed whatever religion the monarch was, and if they opposed the teachings of the religion or criticized the religion itself they would be executed. At this time people were very superstitions and would believe absolutely anything to fit in with the crowd including ghosts and witches, because if you didn’t you would be frowned upon and discarded from society.
React!